Worship Articles

The Alabaster Heart

A few days ago, very early in the morning, I had gotten up to spend time with the Lord. I began to smell a fragrance that was captivating. I tried to find where it was coming from but to no avail. I decided it was from God to me so I just praised Him for the new day and that He was in it with me.

It reminded me of the story in the book of Luke where the woman broke the alabaster flask of fragrant oil and it permeated the whole room.

I began to ponder over a few questions. Would you like to join me?

Is God pleased with my worship to Him?

Do I passionately worship God?

How much do I truly love Jesus Christ?

Do I live out my worship?

Do I have the devotion that is displayed in our passage today?

Does my worship from last year continue to bless my Father's Heart?

True worship releases a passionate Heart that loves God.

In Luke 7:36-48 Jesus anointed by a Sinful Woman

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She's a sinner!"

Then Jesus answered his thoughts.

"Simon," he said to the Pharisee, "I have something to say to you."

"Go ahead, Teacher," Simon replied.

Then Jesus told him this story:

"A man loaned money to two people--500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?"

Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt."

"That's right," Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn't offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn't greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. I tell you, her sins - and they are many - have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love".

Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven." (NLT)

This woman pushed beyond any fears concerning what everybody else might think of her. Her passion so burned inside of her for Jesus that nothing was going to keep her from the feet of her Master.

We must be as passionate as this dear woman who was in a place of desperation.

At all times we should be desperate for God's presence, we must not allow the pressures of this life to steal away our time for God.

True passion for God will release true worship; when we are passionate people filled with fresh first love who pursue the presence of the Lord, it is then we'll experience God's presence among us.

I have to say, "God I desperately need you every minute of every day."

The outflow of that kind of life brings deliverance, healing, restoration, forgiveness and cleansing. Worship that does not cost me everything or worship that does not involve brokenness and sacrifice is not worship at all! We must give Him everything.

This breaking releases a fragrant worship. If we're going to release the fragrant oil of worship, we must die daily and live a lifestyle of worship in the presence of God. We become humbled under His mighty hand, broken inside, and our pride is overthrown. The games that life tries to push us into become very small in comparison to living in the Kingdom of God.

Love rules and there is no jealousy. His kingdom is not a push and shove mentality, it is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. We see each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. The only title we are proud to hold is, "a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Our hearts are just like the alabaster box containing precious treasure soaked in an exquisite fragrance.

Brokenness helps us die to ourselves and our inhibitions; we can forget about ourselves and worship God with great freedom and abandonment. It was only after her alabaster box was broken that the oil could be poured out, releasing its fragrance. Even after she walked out of the house there was still the lingering aroma; something had happened, someone touched God! I love that!

Simon didn't think that he needed to be forgiven for anything because He was a Pharisee; he was religious and very arrogant. His title was more important than humbling himself before God. This just proves that he did not have a revelation of his need for God's mercy and forgiveness. That's why he did not have the passion that is necessary to follow Jesus.

Simon did not know his debt; but the woman did.

Here we see who touched God's heart. Simon highly esteemed himself. This spirit is so easy to discern. Jesus blessed a woman that others looked down upon and Jesus highly esteemed her.

This shows us the true test of a Worshiper verses a Religious Person. We must not forget the pit that God brought us out of. That has helped to keep me focused. I would not have made it this far if it had not been for the mercy and forgiveness of God.

When we get to thinking it is about us, then we have gotten away from abandoned worship. Abandoned worship ushers us into His presence and allows the glory cloud of God to fill the atmosphere with something much bigger than what we could ever try to orchestrate. Like Job, we fall to our knees in worship. That is such good news.

Do you want a blessed year? Here is the key, Worship our Lord Jesus in Spirit and in Truth.

There will be a fragrance and aroma that fills your life and those close by. And like this woman people will be talking about it for years to come, providing our Lord tarries.

I have been blessed to share God's Word with you over the years. I ask God to continue to reveal His Glory to all of us....

John 14:7 Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid"